New Orleans In Uproar Over Quote Mcmahon In Eye Of A New Storm Following Fabricated Tv Report

January 24, 1986|By Jerry Greene of The Sentinel Staff

NEW ORLEANS — A false television report turned this city against Chicago quarterback Jim McMahon, who was incorrectly quoted as saying, ''New Orleans is the dirtiest city I've ever seen, the people are stupid and the women are sluts.''

The report led to threats on his life and picketing by a handful of women at the Bears' hotel.

McMahon, who did moon a helicopter Wednesday afternoon, said, ''I guess I'll be lucky to stay alive if I stay here any longer.''

McMahon must stay through Sunday, when he is scheduled to start in Super Bowl XX against the New England Patriots.

Regardless of his feelings about New Orleans, its people and its women, McMahon remains listed as probable for the game despite concern about a deep buttock bruise. An acupuncturist flown in from Japan and then Chicago has been treating McMahon and some other Bears since Wednesday.

McMahon says the bruise is why he mooned the helicopter. ''I just wanted to show them where it hurt,'' he said Thursday.

''We have no basis to believe the statements about New Orleans, attributed to Mr. McMahon, were ever made,'' station general manager Bob McRaney Jr. said.

The station's sports director, Buddy Diliberto, made the original report and then a televised apology Thursday. WDSU later suspended Diliberto, pending an investigation into the incident.

Originally Diliberto said McMahon made the statement during a live, remote radio broadcast for WLS, a Chicago station. Later Diliberto said a New Orleans disc jockey told him McMahon had said the things about New Orleans on the WLS broadcast.

But Les Grobstein of WLS said, ''I haven't interviewed him McMahon in four years. This is the biggest non-story story of the week.''

McMahon said, ''There are a lot of nuts in this world.''

McMahon's health is a legitimate issue. He said Thursday that the acupuncture treatments were working and that he ''was sure he would play Sunday.''

Even if McMahon plays but is not effective, a controversy is bound to erupt. Bears President Michael McCaskey would not let acupuncturist Hiroshi Shiriashi fly from Chicago to New Orleans on the team airplane Monday and forbade McMahon from seeking more treatments.

But Chicago Coach Mike Ditka talked McCaskey into relenting, and Shiriashi was flown to New Orleans Wednesday by the Illinois State Acupuncture Association.

''I am here to make the Bears feel better for the Super Bowl,'' Shiriashi said. ''I hope that I can help them to become champions.''

Wide receiver Dennis McKinnon also is being treated by Shiriashi for hip and knee problems this week. ''I have nothing to do with voodoo,'' McKinnon said, ''but acupuncture works.''